satisfied on important subjects without the best evidence that was to be had. His manner was remarkably impressive; and his sermons, although seldom polished, were generally delivered with such indescribable power, that he was truly an able and successful minister of the New Testament. He could say things from the pulpit, which, if said by almost any other man, would have been thought a violation of propriety. But by him they were delivered in a manner so peculiar to himself, and so extremely impressive, that they seldom failed to please and to instruct. As an instance of this, the following anecdote is given.

Mr.

Mr. T. was passing through a town in the state of New Jersey, in which he was a stranger, and had never preached; and stopping at a friend's house to dine, was informed, that it was a day of fasting and prayer in the congregation, on account of a very severe drought, which threatened the most dangerous conse quences to the fruits of the earth. His friend had just returned from church, and the intermission was but half an hour. T. was requested to preach, and with great, difficulty consented, as he wished to proceed on his journey. At church, the people were surprized to see a preacher, wholly unknown to them, ascend the pulpit. His whole appearance, being in a travelling dress, covered with dust, wearing an old-fashioned large wig, discoloured like his clothes, and a long meagre visage, engaged their attention, and excited their curiosity. On his rising up, instead of beginning to pray, as was the usual practice, he looked around the congregation with a piercing eye, and after a minute's profound silence, addressed them with great solemnity in the following words: My beloved brethren! I am told you have come here to-day to fast and pray: a very good work indeed, provided you have come with a sincere desire to glorify God thereby. But if your design is merely to comply with a customary practice, or with the wish of your church officers, you are guilty of the greatest folly imaginable, as you had much better have staid at home, and earned your three shillings and sixpence. But if your minds are indeed impressed with the solemnity of the occasion, and you are really desirous of humbling yourselves before Al mighty God, your heavenly Father, come, join with me, and let us pray. 99 This had an effect so extraordinary on the congregation, that the utmost seriousness was universally manifested. The prayer and the sermon added greatly to the impressions already made, and tended to rouse the attention, command the affections, and increase the temper, which had been so happily produced. Many had reason to bless God for this unexpected visit, and to reckon this day one of the happiest of their lives. +

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The writer, having requested of the present Rev. Dr. W. M. Tennent a written account of an anecdote relative to his uncle, which he had one heard him repeat verbally, received the following:

While on this subject, we may introduce another anecdote of this wonderful man, to show the dealings of God with him, and the deep contemplations of his mind. He was attending the duties of the Lord's Day in his own congregation, as usual, where the custom was to have the morning and evening service with only half an hour's intermission to relieve the attention. He had preached in the morning, and in the intermission had walked into the woods før meditation, the weather being warm. He was reflecting on the infinite wisdom of God, as manifested in all his works, and particularly in the wonderful method of salvation, through the death and sufferings of his beloved Son. This subject suddenly opened on his mind with such a flood of light, that his views of the glory and the infinite majesty of Jehovah, were so inexpressibly great, as entirely to overwhelm him; and he fell, almost life

During the great revival of religion, which took place under the ministry of Mr. Whitefield, &c. Mr. T. was laboriously active, but met with strong and powerful temptations. The following may be considered as extraordinary and singularly striking.

"On the evening preceding public worship, he selected a subject for the discourse which was to be delivered, and made some progress in his preparations. In the morning, he resumed the same subject, with an intention to extend his thoughts further on it, but was presently assaulted with a temptation that the Bible, which he then held in his hand, was not of divine authority, but the invention of man. He instantly endeavoured to repel the temptation by prayer, but his endeavours proved unavailing. The temptation continued, and fastened upon him with greater strength as the time advanced for public service. He lost all the thoughts which he had on his subject the preceding evening. He tried other subjects, but could get nothing for the people. The whole book of God, under that distressing state of mind, was a scaled book to him; and, to add to his affliction, he was, to use his own words, shut up in prayer." A cloud, dark as that

of Egypt, oppressed his mind.

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"Thas agonized in spirit, he proceeded to the church, where he found a large congregation assembled, and waiting to hear the word; and then it was, he observed, that he was more deeply distressed than ever, and especially for the dishonour which he feared would fall upon religion, through him, that day. He resolved, however, to attempt the service. He introduced it by singing a psalm; during which time bis agitations were increased to the highest degree. When the moment for prayer commenced, he arose, as one in the most perilous and painful situation, and with arms extended to the heavens, began with this outery, Lord have mercy upon me! Upon the utterance of this petition he was heard; the thick cloud instantly broke away, and an unspeakably joyful light shone in upon his soul, so that his spirit seemed to be caught up to the heavens, and he felt as if he saw God, as Moses did on the mount, face to face, and was carried forth to him, with an enlargement greater than he had ever before experienced; and on every page of the Scriptures saw his divinity inscribed in brightest colours. The result was a deep solemnity on the face of the whole congregation; and the house at the end of the prayer was a Bochim. He gave them the subject of his evening meditations, which was brought to his full remembrance, with an overflowing abundance of other weighty and solemn matter. The Lord blessed the discourse, so that it proved the happy means of the conversion of about thirty persons. This day he spoke of, ever afterwards, as his harvest-day.

less, to the ground. When he had revived a little, all he could do was to raise a fervent prayer, that God would withdraw himself from him, or that he must perish under a view of his ineffable glory. When able to reflect on his situation, he could not but abhor himself as a weak and despicable worm; and seemed to be overcome with astonishment, that a creature so unworthy and insufficient, had ever dared to attempt the instruction of his fellowmen in the nature and attributes of so glorious a Being, Over-1 staying his usual time, some of his elders went in search of him, and found him prostrate on the ground, unable to rise, and incapable of informing them of the cause. They raised him up, and, after some time, brought him to the church, and supported him to the pulpit, which he ascended on his hands and knees, to the no small astonishment of the congregation. He remained silent a considerable time, earnesty supplicating Almighty God to hide. himself from him, that he might be enabled to address his people, who were by this time lost in wonder to know what had pro laced this uncommon event. His prayers were heard, and he became able to stand up, by holding the desk. He now began the most affecting and pathetic address that the congregation had ever received from him. He gave a surprizing account of the views he had of the infinite wisdom of God; and greatly deplored his own incapacity to speak to them concerning a Being so infinitely glorious beyond all his powers of description. He attempted to show something of what had been discovered to him of the astonishing wisdom of Jehovah, of which it was impossible for human nature to form adequate conceptions. He then broke out into so fervent and expressive a prayer, as greatly to surprize the congre gation, and draw tears from every eye. A sermon followed, which continued the solemn scene, and made very lasting impressions on all the hearers.

The great increase of communicants in his church was a good evidence of his pastoral care and powerful preaching, as it exceeded that of most churches in the synod; but his labours were not confined to the pulpit. He was indefatigable in his endeavours to communicate in private families a savour of the knowledge of spiritual and divine things. In his parochial visits he used regularly to go through his congregation in order. He earnestly pressed it on the conscience of parents to instruct their children at home, so as gradually to expand their minds, and prepare them for the reception of the more practical doctrines of the gospel. In this, Mr. T. has presented an excellent example to his brethren in the ministry; for certain it is, that more good may be done in a congregation by this domestic mode of instruction, than any one can imagine who has not made the trial.

[To be concluded in our next.]

AN ORIGINAL LETTER

FROM THE LATE REV. THOMAS JONES,

CHAPLAIN OF ST. SAVIOUR'S, SOUTHWARK,

TO MR. T. S.

"My dear Brother,

:

"I AM much concerned to hear of your present distress; but I hope you will soon experience a truly happy deliverance. I find you are fearful that you have committed the unpardonable sin if you had, depend upon it, you would not be at all concerned about it. This is the insinuation of the enemy of souls, who, for a while, is suffered to buffet you; but, remember for your comfort, he is a conquered foe, and cannot go beyond his chain. I doubt not but you will shine brighter for being in the furnace of Affliction. In the mean time, do not entertain hard thoughts of God, nor write bitter things against yourself,your present distress is an argument of the Redeemer's love, "who scourgeth every son whom he receiveth."

"I trust, the Lord is now purifying your spirit, and purging away your dross. O may this affliction have its perfect work! Jesus is emptying you from sin and self, that you may be filled with the fulness of his righteousness and salvation. Believe not the insinuations of the enemy; but tell him, he was a liar and "a murderer from the beginning!" Go to the throne of grace, throw yourself at the feet of Immanuel, even if you have not a word to say; resolve, if you perish, to perish at his feet, and you shall soon experience his love and tender mercy, and sweetly find, that

"He knows what sore temptations mean,

For he hath felt the same."

The bruised reed he will not break; and he will raise the smoking flax to a flame.

"My beloved brother, accept these lines from him who bears you much upon his heart. O may God support you! - Jesus comfort you! My feeble prayers shall not be wantiug.

I doubt not but you shall shortly find "all joy and peace in believing." Let me again entreat you to throw yourself at the feet of Jesus; apply to him, not as an enemy, but as a kind Friend and tender Brother,

"That you may be enabled to view him in this amiable and endearing light, is the hearty prayer of

your real friend and affectionate brother
in our joint Mediator,

Epiphany, 1756.

T. JONES.

No. II *.

ON PROVIDENCE.

LET US examine the providence of God towards his church. He designs to display his sovereignty, holiness, grace, &c. and to convince men that the atonement of Christ and the sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit are absolutely necessary, in order to salvation.

Doubtless, the angels were astonished at Satan's success against our first parents; and more so at the promise that was given them, that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head.

The almost universal apostacy before the flood, displayed the depravity of human nature; and the deluge demonstrated the awful justice of God. The apostacy after the flood, proved that judgments cannot reclaim, much less convert, sinners. As God did not intend a second destruction of all mankind, he proceeded to call Abraham, that in him and his posterity the knowledge of the true God might be preserved. To render his grace and power the more illustrious, he selected him out of a people who were violently addicted to idolatry; from which this Father of the Faithful does not appear to have been quite free.

Constant intercourse with idolaters is the ready way to become such. Wherefore, God commanded Abraham to forsake his country, and dwell in Canaan; and for the same reason, fixed his settling there; commanding him to dwell in tents, which rendered his removal from one part of the country to another' easy, and therefore frequent. The wisdom of this direction appears from the history of Lot, who fixed his residence in Sodom, where the morals of all his family were totally corrupted.

However, dwelling in tents would only do for the rude and early ages of the world, when population was comparatively small, and the number of the redeemed before Christ, would be limited to only a few individuals at a time. Moreover, the worshippers of the true God would be too few to prepare the Gentiles for receiving the gospel, which was a very principal end of the calling the Jews.

Abraham's posterity could not increase to a nation while they dwelt in Canaan. Some retreat must, therefore, be provided, where they might dwell safely, and multiply rapidly. Egypt was fixed upon for that purpose. In Egypt they were in danger of being incorporated with the Egyptians, and perverted to their idolatry. This was prevented by the barbarous treatment they received,

For No. I, see our Magazine for August last. This Paper was to have followed immediately; but has been mislaid.